Bottle filling apparatus



May 24, 1938. J. KANTOR BOTTLE FILLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l .6 mm MK 5 8 m J ATTORNEYs Patented May 24, 1938 BOTTLE APPARATUS James Kantor, Chicago, 111., minor to The Liquid Carbonic Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application September 3; 1935, Serial No. 38,901

18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in bottle filling machines and particularly to that type of bottle filling machine commercially known as the counter pressure machine wherein the bottle is adapted to be filled with a carbonated liquid, the bottle being initially supplied with a charge of CO: at a pressure equal to the CO3 pressure in the liquid tank above the liquid so that there is a balance of pressure established in the tank and in the bottle whereby when the liquid is admitted, it flows merely under the head established in the tank.

In certain types of machines of this character, if, for any reason, the machine is stopped during the course of itsoperation, the valve controlling the counter pressure tube under certain circumstances, will remain open so that there will be a tendency for the liquid from the tank to flow into the bottle andthence overflow through and into the counter pressure tube, resulting, when the machine is again started, in either the next succeeding'bottle becoming only partially filled with the liquid or in foaming or other objectionable features occurring.

For the purpose of disclosing myinvention, I have" illustrated an embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, more or less diagrammatic, of a bottle filling machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filler valve shown in connection with the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a filler tank showing the overflow prevention means; and

Fig. 4 is a-detailed section of the overflow prevention means controlling valve.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the filling machine embodies a filler tank I provided with the usual filler valves 2. In practice,the machine is provided with a number of these valves from 18 to 24, depending upon the capacity of the machine. This tank is connected with the usual water supply and is likewise connected with a C02 supply through the medium oi. the control valve 3 and a pipe 4. The bottles to be filled are received on vertically reciprocable rotating bottle supports 5, one for each valve, which receives the bottles from a conveyor table 6. As the bottles are received on the supports 5, the supports are raised, carrying with them the bottles to be filled which, in turn, engage with the throat of the bottle valve, thereby controlling the operation of the valve. The supports, the tank and the bottle valve all rotate inunison although the control valve 3 is adapted to remain stationaryjdue to its connection with the CO:

supply pipe 4. However,'a swiveled joint or connection extends between the valve 3 and the top of the tank, permitting relative rotation. Each of the filler valves 2 is connected with the water supply through a conduit I and'with a gas supply through a conduit 8 which communicates with a gas tube 9 in the tank, opening above the water level in the tank. In order to understand the operation of the filler valves, reference may I be made to the sectional view of the filler valve valve It in turn controlling the passage of waterfrom the chamber ll connected with the water tank through. the water connection 'I. Concentrically surrounding this water tube is a counter pressure tube It having at its lower end discharge openings I9. This counter pressure tubeat its upper end communicates with a counter pressure valve controlling the passage of counter pressure from' the chamber 2|, in turn communicating by the connection 8 with the counter pressure gas tube 9 in the tank. A ballcheck valve 22 controls admission of the counter pressure through the valve port 23. This check valve is normally open and only acts under certain emergency conditions. The valves 16 and 20 are respectively .provided with stems 24 and- 25, the stem 24, as illustrated, being shorter than the stem. 25 for purpose more fully hereinafter to appear. A bottle engaging hell or throat 26 is mounted at the lower end of a slidable tubular I support 21, which support at its upper end, sur-'- -rounds a relatively stationary tube 28 extending downwardly from the valve l0 and the support 21 is held against extreme downward position by an annular flange ,29 engaging beneath a collar 30 on the support 21. A coiled spring II biases the throat 26 and its associated support in a downward position, this spring being interposed between an annular fiange32 on the tube 28 and a washer 33 stationarily mounted in the support 21. In addition to the water tube and counter pressure tube heretofore described, there is provided an additional tube 34 which acts as a shifter tube and communicates, through a suitable valve with the atmosphere. So far as the operation of the present invention is concerned, this snifter tube need be further described. I

In operation, when the bottle is raised on the bottle support 5, shown in Fig. 1, the neck of the bottle enters the throat 26 coming in contact with a sealing cushion 35. The continued upward movement of the bottle raises the tubular support 21 until the same comes in contact with the stem 25 of the counter pressure valve. This opens the counter pressure valve, admitting counter pressure, CO: from the top of the tank I through the counter pressure gas tube 9, the counter pressure valve 20, and through the counter pressure tube into the bottle. The supply of gas or CO: is maintained in the tank above thewater level through the medium of the control valve 3 and the supply pipe 4 and this counter pressure gas is maintained at a pressure of approximately thirty pounds. Due to the opening of the counter pressure valve, gas is admitted to the bottle until the bottle is practically filled. By this time, the top of the supporting tube 21 will engage the stem 24 of the water supply valve, thereby opening the water supply valve and permitting the water from the tank I to fiow through this valve and through the water tube into the bottle, the valve l2 of the tube having at the same time been opened by suitable mechanism not shown. Due to the fact that the gas pressure in the bottle is equal to the gas pressure above the water in the tank I, the water will fiow into the bottle under its own head only and thereby fiow comparatively slowly without causing material agitation. At the same time that the water is flowing into the bottle through the water tube, the gas is fiowing out of the bottle through the counter pressure tube and back into the top of the tank. The water continues to fiow into the bottle until it has covered the openings l9 at which time it will be caused to stop simply because the top of the bottle is sealed by the sealing ring 35 and passage of gas from the bottle is stopped by the closing of the opening l9. Therefore, with no chance of escape for the gas above the water in the bottle, the water cannot continue to fiow into the bottle. As soon, under normal operation, as the bottle becomes filled, it commences its downward stroke, first permitting the water valve iii to close, and then the gas valve 20.

In the commercial machines, as heretofore constructed, and embodying the above construction, if, for any reason, the machine should be stopped during its operation, with the water valve and the gas valve both open, there will be a tendency for the weight of the water in the tank to force the water from the bottle up through the counter pressure tube and the various passages connecting it with the gas tube. If the period of stoppage is long enough, this water will flow upwardly and into the gas tube until it reaches the level of the water in the filler tank. Under these circumstances, when the machine is again started up and a fresh bottle engages the filler valve with its counter pressure passageway filled with water, the counter pressure in the bottle cannot estab-' lish itself to its fullest extent before the water valve I6 is opened, and as a result, the full counter pressure is not established in the bottle, thus permitting the, water to fiow violently into the bottle, therebytending to close the ball valve 36 and thus stop any further flow of water into the bottle. As a result, the bottle will not be properly filled with water. This failure on the part of the counter pressure to establish itself in the bottle is due, of course, to the fact that before the gas can be admitted into the bottle, the water which has accumulated in the counter pressure tube, must be first forced out.

If .the machine for any reason has not been stopped long enough to completely fill the counter pressure tube with water as heretofore described, but only a small-amount of water is forced up into the tube. when this small amount of water is forced into the next succeeding bottle, it is forced in so violently that it forms a mist or fog in the bottle which settles on the top of the syrup and when the incoming carbonated water mixes with this mist, the material starts to foam, causing the bottle to boil over.

In either event, the accumulation of water in the counter pressure tube has heretofore been an objection and as a result, the machines have not operated one hundred percent efficiently.

To overcome this objection and to prevent the backfiow of liquid into the counter pressure tube, when the machine is stopped for any reason, I provide the means disclosed more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. To this end, each of the counter pressure gas tubes 9 in the tank, is connected to a gas manifold 31 by means of a suitable pipe 38. This gas manifold 31 may take the form of a circular pipe mounted in the top of the tank and the connections 38 may take the form of suitable flexible copper tubes extending from the top of each of the gas tubes 9 to the manifold 31. At one point, the manifold 31 is connected with a valve communicating with the top of the tank, above the water level, and to this end, I provide a valve comprising a body portion 39 provided with a head 40. The head 40 receives the two free ends of the manifold 31 and is secured to the body 39 by suitable bolts 4|. This body is provided with a valve port 42 on its underside which port is normally closed by means of a valve 43.

For the purpose of controlling the valve 43, I provide a diaphragm structure comprising a housing 44 provided with a stem 45 extending through a boss 46 in the top of the tank and secured in position by means of a suitable nut 41. This housing 44 is provided on its bottom face with an annular shoulder 48 against which is clamped a diaphragm 49 by means of a ring 59 extending from the valve housing 39. The diaphragm 49 is clamped between a pair of diaphragm plates 5| and 52, the plate 52 having a stem 53 formed thereon extending through the diaphragm through the plate 5|. and receiving a clamping screw or nut 54. For biasing the diaphragm 49 in its downward position, I interpose between the top of the diaphragm and a. shoulder formed in the stem 45 a coiled spring 55. The plate 52 is formed on the upper side of a yoke 56 which surrounds the casing 39 and on its underside is adapted to receive the valve 43. To this end, the yoke is provided with a hollow plug 51 threaded into the yoke and receiving a cushioning spring 58. The valve 51 is provided with a stem 59 which extends through the spring 58 and through the bottom of the plug to receive a holding pin 60. It is thus seen that the valve 51 is thus cushionedly supported in the yoke and will have a certain amount of movement relatively to the yoke.

The chamber above the diaphragm 49 and in the housing 44 is adapted to be placed in communication with the source of supply of CO2. It is to be borne in mind that the control valve 3 has a swiveled connection with the' tank I due to the fact that the control valve proper remains stationary while the tank and its associating filling valves rotate. To this end the con- -trol valve 3 is provided with a nipple 6| prothe nipple 6| and this ring is connected by a. with the stem 45 of the,

pipe or conduit 64 diaphragm housing.

This swiveled ring provides a connection between the chamber in the housing of the diaphragm and the source of gas supply delivered through the control valve 3. To this end, the ring 63 surrounds the stem 60 of the valve 3, being rotatable relative thereto, and is provided with an annular recess 65. The top of this recess is closed by a plug screw 66. Within the recess or groove thus formed, I arrange a ring 61 having an annular lip- 66 hearing on the top of a separate ring 69 thus forming an annular groove I0 communicating with a port 'II in the nipple 6| and having an opening connecting with a port I! in the ring which port in turn communicates with the conduit 64. Suitable packing material is arranged within. the recess in the ring to prevent the escape of gas and the rings 68 and 69 are so clamped in position by the plug 66 that they form a unit with the swiveled ring 63 and rotate therewith. The port 1| communicates through a port 12' in the nipple 6| with'a conduit I3 extending to a valve 14 preferably mounted on the table 6 and controlled through a suitable handle 15 connected by a link 16 with the clutch lever 11. By the movement of the clutch lever, the opposite side of the valve 14 is connected by a conduit 18 with the nipple 6| so that in addition to supplying gas to the top of the tank I a by-pass is provided through the pipe I6. The valve 14 comprises an ordinary three-way plug valve as shown in Fig. 4.

In normal operation, the valve 14 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby establishing communication between the pipe 18 and the pipe 13. Therefore, under these circumstances, pressure from the control valve 3 will pass through the pipe 18 through the valve 14, through the pipe 13, by the way of the conduit 1| and through pipe 64 to the chamber in the housing 44 above the diaphragm 49., Due to the fact that this pressure is equal to the pressure in the top of the tank and, therefore, the pressure exerted against the underside of the diaphragm, the gas pressure on either side of the diaphragm is balanced and the spring 55 can and does exert sufiicfent bias to maintain the valve 51 open so that the counter pressure tubes 9 are placed in communication with the top of the tank I to receive counter pressure gas in the normal manner and to permit the operation of the filler valve, as heretofore described. If, however, the machine is stopped by the throwing of the lever TI to disconnect the clutch, the valve 14 is moved to a position to close communication between the pipes 13 and I6 and open communication between the pipe 13 and the atmosphere through the port 80, in the valve, and the port 8|, in the valve casing. This places the chamber above the diaphragm in communication with the atmosphere through the conduit 64, the port II and conduit 13; There being no pressure of gas on the upper side or the diaphragm and the diaphragm being exposed to the gas pressure in the tank I, the diaphragm will be moved upwardly under the influence of this pressure moving the valve 43 to closed position. This etiectively seals the upper end of the counter pressure supply tubes 9 and it is obvious that-with one end of the counter pressure tube l9 closed or sealed, it would be impossible for liquid to flow up into the tube so that as long as the machine remains stopped, the how of liquid into the counter pressure tube will be eflectively prevented and as soon as the machine is again started up, it will start to operate in the normal manner and without having to eject fluid which may have passed into the counter pressure tube.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a filling valve including a counter pressure tube, of means for sealing the inlet to said tube, and means controlling the operation of said sealing means operated by said control member when the same is moved to stop the machine in any filling position with the filiing valve in discharge condition to thereby prevent back flow of liquid into said tube.

2. In a bottle member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a filling valve including a counter pressure tube having an inlet communicating with the counter pressure gas supply, of means for sealing the inlet to said tube, and means operated by said control member for moving said sealing means to closed position when the control member is operated to stop the machine in any filling position with the filling valve in discharge condition to thereby prevent back ficw of liquid into said tube.

3. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a filling valve including a counter pressure tube, of pressure operated means for sealing the inlet to said tube, and means controlling the pressure to said sealing means operated by said control member and closing the sealing means when the machine is stopped in any filling position with the filling valve in discharge condition to thereby prevent back fiow of the liquid into said tube.

4. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a water supply and a counterpressure gas supply, of a filling valve including a counter pressure tube communicating with the counter pressure supply, means for sealing the communication between said tube and said counter pressure supply, and means operated by said control member for closing said sealing means when the machine is stopped to seal the inlet of said tube and thereby prevent the back flow of liquid into said tube when the machine is stopped with the valve in discharge condition.

5. In a bottle filling machine, having acontrol member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a filling valve including a counter pressure tube, of a source of counter pressure gas supply communicating with said tube, means operated by said counter pressure for sealing the inlet of said tube when the machine is stopped with the filling valve in discharge condition to thereby prevent back flow of liquid into said tube, and means operated by the operation of said control member for causing the operation of said sealing means.

6. In a fillin'g machine, the combination with a filling valve, including a counter pressure tube, of means for sealing. the inlet to said tube, a diaphragm connected to said sealing means, means for supplying a balanced pressure on the opposite sides of said diaphragm and a spring acting on said diaphragm for moving said valve to open Position.

7. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member tor starting and stopping the same, the combination with a filling tank containing a water supply and a counter pressure gas supply, of a plurality of filling tubes communicating with said tank and each including a counter pressure tube, said tubes being connected with a common inlet communicating with said tank for the counter pressure gas, and means for sealing said inlet whenever the machine is stopped with any of the valves in discharge condition operated by said control member.

8. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a fillingtank, having a liquid supply and a counter pressure gas supply, of a plurality of filling valves associated with said tank and each including a counter pressure tube, 'a manifold communicating with said tank and a connection between said manifold and each of said counter pressure tubes, a single inlet into said manifold from said tank, means for sealing said inlet, and means operated by said control member in stopping the machine for closing said sealing means.

9. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a filling valve including a counter pressure tube, of normally open sealing means controlling the inlet to said tube, means for controlling the stopping and starting of the machine, and means operated by said controlling means to close said sealing means when said controlling means is operated to stop the machine.

10. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a filling tank containing a supply of liquid and a supply of counter pressure gas, of a. plurality of filling valves associated with said tank, each including a counter pressure tube, a manifold arranged within said tank communicating with the counter pressure gas supply and connected to each of said counter pressure tubes, a valve for controlling the communication between said gas supply and said manifold, a diaphragm controlling the operation of said valve and subjected on one side to the counter pressure in said tank and on the opposite side to acombined gas and spring pressure and means within the control of the operator for releasing the gas pressure on said opposite side to permit the counter pressure in said tank to move said valve to a closed position against the action of said spring.

11. The combination with a rotatable 'filler tank and control means for stopping and starting the tank, of means for supplying said tank with gas under pressure to create a pressure therein, a filler valve rotatable with said tank and including a liquid supply tube communicating with said tank and a gas supply tube communicating with said tank, valve means for controlling the discharge through said tubes, means operated by the movement of the bottle into filling position for successively operating said valve means to cause said tubes to discharge, and means operated by said control member in stopping the machine for closing the inlet from said tank to said gas supply tube whenever the roTation of the machine is stopped in any filling position with said valve means in discharge position.

12. In a bottle filling machine. the combination with a rotating tank and having a control member for starting and stopping the tank, of a filler valve rotatable therewith and including a liquid discharge tube and a gas discharge tube both communicating with the interior of said-tank, valve means for controlling the-discharge' of said tubes operated by the movement of a bottle into filling position to successively place said tubes in communication with said tank, a fiuid pressure-operated valve controlling the communication between said counter pressure tube and the interior of said tank, and means for causing the fluid pressure to operate to close said valve operated by said control member in stopping said machine in any filling position with said liquid filling tube in discharge condition.

13. In a bottle filling machine, having a control member for starting and stopping the same, the combination with a rotatable filler tank having a liquid supply and a counter pressure gas/supply therein, of a plurality of filler valves rotatable with said tank and each including a counter pressure tube communicating with a counter pressure gas supply in said tank, a liquid tube communicating with the liquid supply in said tank, valve means for controlling the discharge through said tubes from said tank, means operating to move said valve means into discharge position upon the movement of a bottle into filling position with respect to said tubes, and means for sealing the communication between said tank and said counter pressure tube operated by the control member in stopping said machine with both said valve means in open position.

14. The combination with a filler tank having a liquid and a gas supply therein, of a plurality of filler valves rotatable with said tank each having a gas tube and a liquid tube, said liquid tubes communicating with the liquid supply in said tank, a manifold in said tank communicating with the gas supply therein and connected to said gas tubes, valve means for controlling the discharge of said liquid and gas through said tubes, means for moving said valve means to open position upon the movement of a bottle into filling position, means for closing the communication between said manifold and said filler tank and automatic means operated upon the stopping of the machine with said'valve means in discharge position for operating said closing means.

15. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a rotating filler tank, of a plurality of filler valves rotating with said tank and each including a gas tube and a liquid tube communicating with said tank, a manifold in said tank connected to each of said gas tubes and having a single communicating opening with the tank, valve means for controlling the discharge of said gas and liquid tubes; means for closing the single inlet into said manifold from said filler tank and means automatically operated upon the stopping of the machine with said valve in open position for operating said closing means.

16. A machine of the character described, the combination with a filler tank having a liquid supply and a gas supply therein, a plurality of filler valves rotating with said tank including a liquid tube and a gas tube, a manifold within said tank having a single inlet opening to the gas supply in said tank and connected to the respective gas tubes of said valves each of said valves including valve means controlling the discharge of said tubes, means for closing the single inlet said valve means in discharge position for operating said closing means.

17. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a rotatable filler tank having a liquid supply and a counter-pressure gas supply therein, of a manifold arranged in said tank, a valve controlling the admission of counter-pressure to said manifold, means subject to the counter-pressure in said tank for biasing said valve in a closed position, means for admitting pressure against the opposite side of said means to counter-balance the efiect of said counter-pressure, means for controlling the admission of. said counter-balancing pressure, a plurality of filler valves rotatable with said tank and each including a counterpressure tube communicating with said manifold.

18. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a rotatable filler tank, of a plurality of filler valves rotating with said tank and each including a gas tube, a manifold in said tank connected with each of said gas tubes and having a single opening communicating with the tank, a valve for controlling said opening, a diaphragm connected with said valve and subjected to the counter-pressure in said tank for moving said diaphragm to normally bias said valve in its closed position, a pressure chamber on the opposite side of said diaphragm, means for admitting pressure to said pressure chamber to counter balance the effect of said counter-pressure, and means for controlling the admission of said pressure to said pressure chamber.

JAMES KANTOR. 

